I never liked President Obama since day one. But since then, I have changed my views about what I think is the best for the United States and for Hispanic Americans. I no longer consider myself a friend of the Republicans.

One reason is that after the economic debacle of 2008 the Republicans kept defending the interests of those that made that debacle possible, those who profited from it. I thought that, back then, the time came for real reforms ... not to Washington, D.C., but to Wall Street.

Instead, Republicans became the “No Party,” and continued insisting in those same policies that put millions out of work, forcing the increase in national debt that saved capitalism from collapsing. They have obstructed every single initiative put forward by the White House; they have buttressed and spearheaded the congressional gridlock that has so many voters upset with the status quo in America. And, the worst part, they are blaming Obama for all of it. Under those circumstances I could not remain a defender of that party. Instead, I have come to appreciate certain things in Obama’s discourse. The only thing that bars me from really liking him is his obstinate secularism. As a Catholic I must reject him.

I reject him as he tries to enforce his liberal view of society; as he attempts to force upon us pro-choice agendas, even in religious schools; from the moment he repeals acts like Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; from the moment he seeks to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and reinforce Roe vs. Wade. In few words, I must reject Obama because he is trying to obligate on all the United States the vision of society of a small group of gigantic liberal cities in the North East Coast and the West Coast. Instead of respecting the pluralism between regions that characterizes the U.S. — one of the best things about its culture — his agenda is the imposition of a single vision of society that is highly offensive for a huge chunk of Americans that hold to their Christian faith. From the moment Obama becomes the champion of a massive secularization of society that undermines Christian faith itself, I reject him.

Why? Because for most Christians what is being attacked is a set of values and life styles that are considered to be sacred: human life since it is created and marriage as a sacrament between a man and a woman. This is not new; it is but another sequel of the counter culture movement that started 50 years ago; a historical movement that is dismantling the social cohesion from which we can enjoy a religious and spiritual life. For most people who believe in God, like me, this is extremely important, if not the most important thing there is, and the changes we are seeing in society produce a lot of distress and worry. This distress is what liberals do not want to see, and unfortunately this includes the President. The triumph of liberal secularism produces a lot of sadness among us; it makes us think that there is no future to long for, and we seclude ourselves in a nostalgic and romantic idea of the past as our only consolation.

I have a divergent feeling toward Obama. On one hand I think he is doing the right thing by trying to tax and regulate the rich and make them pay for all the havoc they have created. This approach could lessen the increasing malevolent influence of a plutocracy, an influence that naïve libertarians do not want to see, and an influence that cynical Republicans are trying to protect.

He also represents the increasing enfranchisement of the African American community, a very important achievement in U.S. history. For Hispanics he is the only option, given that Republicans are in a mad race to out root millions of desperate immigrants fleeing from widespread violence and poverty they go though in their home countries. Obama at least represents hope.

In a way Obama could be a president I really like, but his stubborn and aggressive secularist agenda makes me feel extremely worried and deeply sad about the debauched form U.S. mainstream culture is becoming. Even though, the possibility of Romney being elected president looks so apocalyptic for all of us that are not white Anglo Saxons that Obama seems worth a second term.